NBA ROUNDUP: LeBron, Heat down Lakers for 5th straight win

Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, left, reaches for the ball against Miami Heat's LeBron James during the first quarter of their NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Miami. The Heat won 107-97. (AP Photo/El Nuevo Herald, David Santiago)

Kobe Bryant had 28 points and nine assists for the Lakers, who also got 18 points from Earl Clark. The Lakers had eight turnovers in the fourth quarter, while Miami had none.

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With the win, Miami moved 2 1/2 games clear of the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference standings. The Knicks lost to the Los Angeles Clippers earlier Sunday.

Dwight Howard and Steve Nash each scored 15 for the Lakers.

Wade also shot 12 for 18 for Miami, which shot 55 percent as a team and held a 38-29 edge in rebounding. James scored 20 in the second half and Wade had 18 in the final two quarters.

CLIPPERS 102, KNICKS 88

NEW YORK — Chris Paul scored 25 points in his second game back from injury and reserve Jamal Crawford had 27 to lead Los Angeles over New York.

Carmelo Anthony had 42 points — his fifth 40-point game this season — for the Knicks, but made only one basket in the fourth quarter as 40-year-old Grant Hill came off the bench to defend him.

Blake Griffin finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers, who bounced back from a 22-point loss in Miami on Friday to win for just the fourth time in 12 games. They finish off their eight-game road trip Monday in Philadelphia.

Raymond Felton scored 20 points for the Knicks, who lost for the second time in eight games.

CELTICS 118, NUGGETS 114, 3 OT

BOSTON — Paul Pierce had a triple-double with 27 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists, and Boston extended its winning streak to seven games with a triple overtime win over Denver.

The loss ended Denver’s winning streak at nine games.

Pierce made a 3-pointer in the second overtime, sending the game to a third extra period with the score tied at 107.

The Blazers, who have lost three in a row overall, fell to 1-7 in their last eight road games. They play at Miami on Tuesday and New Orleans on Wednesday before the All-Star break.

GRIZZLIES 105, TIMBERWOLVES 88

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tayshaun Prince scored 18 points, hitting all eight of his shots from the field, and Memphis pulled away in the second quarter before coasting to a win over Minnesota.

Three other Memphis players — Zach Randolph, Mike Conley and Austin Daye — each finished with 16 points. Conley also handed out eight assists, while Randolph grabbed eight rebounds to help the Grizzlies win their second straight.

Luke Ridnour and Ricky Rubio led the Timberwolves with 17 points apiece, and both finished with four assists. Mickael Gelabale scored 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting and Alexey Shved had 10 points and nine assists for Minnesota, which has lost 15 of 17 — including eight straight on the road.

RAPTORS 102, HORNETS 89

TORONTO — John Lucas scored 10 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter to match his season high and Rudy Gay had 20 points to lead Toronto over New Orleans.

Kyle Lowry had 14 points and 10 assists, and Amir Johnson scored 14 points for the Raptors, who won consecutive games for the first time since beating Philadelphia and Charlotte on Jan. 9 and 11.

Jonas Valanciunas had 11 points and 10 rebounds as the Raptors blew open a close game by outscoring the Hornets 33-23 in the final quarter.

Robin Lopez scored 19 points, Greivis Vasquez had 17 and Ryan Anderson 15 for the Hornets, who lost for the first time in three games. Brian Roberts had 13 points for New Orleans.